All-Terrain Tracker From Nextracker

• Nextracker's NX Horizon-XTR is an all terrain tracker conforming to the existing ups and downs of north-south ground slope undulations. 
• The product eases the installation of tracker by reducing the earth grading and pier length, thereby the permitting   
• NX Horizon-XTR, is built on the mechanical and control system technology of the well-known NX Horizon tracker 

Nextracker, the world leading supplier of solar trackers from US, has presented a new tracker called NX Horizon-XTR, an all-terrain tracker at Intersolar. The product, which is a new variation of the smart solar tracker NX Horizon, breaks the paradigm of "straight-line row" design constraints, according to the company. NX Horizon-XTR conforms to the natural terrain, generating a series of benefits such as eliminating cut-and-fill earthworks, reducing pier lengths, easing permitting, and ultimately accelerating project construction schedules while saving more than time and money. 

As utility-scale solar expands into regions with complex site topographies and rolling hills, conventional tracking platforms are limited in their application. The reason being, most tracker systems require longer foundation piles, extensive grading, or a combination of both to accommodate rolling north-south terrain installations, which all adds up to additional costs, potential delays, and environmental concerns, putting projects at risk.  

NX Horizon-XTR, a terrain-following tracker, conforming to the existing ups and downs of north-south ground slope undulations, eliminates these limitations. The latest from the company, the NX Horizon-XTR, is built on the mechanical and control system technology of the well-known NX Horizon tracker. As to quantifying benefits, Nextracker quotes the example of a 120 MW solar plant in Iowa, US. The reduction is grading and cut-fill is about 172,455 m3 and disturbed land area reduction was 286,052 m2. The company referred to another project in Texas with 328 MW for savings in material consumption. A reduction of 68 cm in foundation file length was achieved and the total foundation weight was reduced by about 875 tons. 

For more information about solar tracker, including Nextracker's products, please check TaiyangNews Market Survey on solar Trackers, which can can be downloaded for free here.

The text is an excerpt from TaiyangNews report on New Solar Products Overview 9M/2022, which can be downloaded for free here.